MAIRENA DE ALJARAFE , August 30, 2013 (AFP) - The Czech Republic's Zdenek Stybar, riding for Omega, edged the seventh stage of the Tour of Spain on Friday as Italy's Vincenzo Nibali held on to the overall lead.

Stybar narrowly claimed the day's honors from Belgian world road race champion Philippe Gilbert (BMC) after a 205.9km ride from Almendralejo to Mairena de Aljarafe. Germany's Robert Wagner (Belkin) came in third

Nibali came in 22th, one second behind the winner, and retained possession of the leader's red jersey.

Stybar, a two-time world cyclocross champion, and Gilbert slipped clear of the peloton with seven kilometers to go. The pair held off the sprinters led by Wagner by a matter of centimeters.

Nibali succeeded in escaping any mishaps during the technical stage finish to go into Saturday's eighth stage with a three-second cushion over American Chris Horner and eight seconds over Ireland's Nicolas Roche.

Saturday's ride takes the peloton on a 166km run from Jerez de la Frontera to Estepona with the finish on the Category 1 col de Penas Blancas.